Exchange-wide volume for May 2003 totaled 22,928,895 contracts (12,879,857 calls and 10,049,038 puts), up 8% versus the 21,276,848 contracts traded in May 2002 and up 1% when compared to the previous month's (April 2003) total of 22,772,736 contracts. May was the third consecutive month this year that exchange-wide volume posted gains over the prior year. For the month of May, average daily volume was 1,091,852 contracts. At the end of May, open interest reached 99,023,991 contracts, up 22% over the close of May 2002.
Stock options volume in May 2003 totaled 14,380,860 contracts (9,361,634 calls and 5,019,226 puts), a 6% increase over the previous month's (April 2003) total of 13,576,433 contracts, but virtually unchanged from the 14,387,979 contracts traded in May 2002. For the month of May, average daily volume in stock options was 684,803 contracts. Open interest in stock options stood at 81,532,832 contracts at the end of May 2003, up 16% from the end of May 2002.
For the thirteenth consecutive month, total index options volume posted gains at CBOE. In May 2003, total index options volume reached 8,536,530 contracts (3,509,775 calls and 5,026,755 puts), an increase of 24% over the May 2002 total of 6,885,712 contracts. For the month of May, average daily volume in index options totaled 406,501 contracts. At the end of May 2003, open interest in index options was 17,474,698 contracts, 58% higher than May 2002.
Options on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) were the most-actively traded index options at CBOE during May, with volume totaling 2,824,203 contracts, which was an increase of 38% over the May 2002 volume of 2,046,521 contracts. Average daily volume during May in SPX options was 134,486 contracts. Open interest stood at 4,697,455 contracts at the end of May 2003, an increase of 37% over year-ago levels.
Trading volume for options on the S&P 100 Index (OEX) increased 7% as May 2003 volume in OEX options totaled 1,081,509 contracts, versus the 1,007,058 contracts from May 2002. Average daily volume during May in OEX options was 51,500 contracts. Open interest stood at 230,217 contracts at the end of May 2003, a slight decrease of 2% from 2002.
Volume in Options on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX) totaled 992,896 contracts, an increase of 25% from the May 2002 volume of 794,228 contracts. Average daily volume during May in DJX options was 47,281 contracts. Open interest stood at 1,120,239 contracts at the end of May 2003, an increase of 46% over year-ago levels.
May 2003 trading volume for options on DIAMONDS (DIA) totaled 867,769 contracts, compared to May 2002 volume of 47,689 contracts. Average daily volume during May in DIA options was 41,322 contracts, while open interest stood at 818,219 contracts at the end of May 2003. CBOE launched options on DIAMONDS on May 20, 2002.
Trading volume for options on the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (QQQ) totaled 1,993,529 contracts, an increase of 2% over the May 2002 volume of 1,951,468 contracts. Average daily volume during May in QQQ options was 94,930 contracts. Open interest stood at 8,448,970 contracts at the end of May 2003, an increase of 71% over the May 2002 level.
Volume for options on the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) totaled 44,688 contracts, an increase of 8% over the May 2002 volume of 41,523 contracts. Average daily volume during May in RUT options was 2,128 contracts. Open interest stood at 131,073 contracts at the end of May 2003, an increase of 7% from May 2002.
CBOE, the world's largest options marketplace and the creator of listed options, is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For additional information about the CBOE and its products, access the CBOE web site at www.cboe.com.
